Indigent-care Legislation Passes House Committee

February 01, 1989|By PENNY BENDER Staff Writer

RICHMOND — A committee in the House of Delegates reluctantly passed two bills Tuesday that would set up a trust fund for the state's 1 million indigents and add money to an existing medical assistance program.

The bills are geared to help people who have no medical insurance and don't qualify for Medicaid. The number is growing and includes restaurant workers, store clerks and bell hops, who earn low wages and aren't provided insurance, said Maston T. Jacks, state deputy secretary for human resources.

Members of the House Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee complained they did not have enough time to study the indigent-care bills because of fast-approaching deadlines and the number of bills being pushed through the General Assembly's short session.

"I don't think these bills have had the kind of hearing they deserved," said Del. Warren G. Stambaugh, D-Arlington.

The bills will now to go the House Appropriations Committee for review before going to the House floor for a vote.

The proposed legislation would make significant changes in state funding for indigent care. A $15-million trust fund would be created from state and hospital contributions. Hospitals that provide charity care could be reimbursed for some of their costs, Jacks said.

The state also would contrib ute an additional $4 million to the State-Local Hospitalization program, which also pays for indigent health care. The program, which has been voluntary, would require all hospitals to participate.

Related legislation that would require an accounting of how the indigent trust fund is spent and would deregulate hospital construction and equipment costs will not be passed this session.